Dozens of workers, protesters, and representatives of the Ahvaz Steel Factory have been arrested since midnight on Sunday, and arrests were ongoing as of Monday. So far, the names of 31 detainees have been published.

Since Last night #Iran's regime raided the homes of steelworkers in #Ahvaz & arrested 31 workers on strike. NCRI urges all #humanrights orgs & labor unions to support the workers' strike & demand the immediate release of the arrested workers. #IranProtests #FreeIran2018 @ilo

— Mohammad Mohaddessin (@Mohaddessin) December 17, 2018

The arrests are part of an effort to suppress the steelworkers’ protests, which reached its 39th day on Tuesday. Repressive forces—including Ministry of Intelligence agents, riot police, and Revolutionary Guards—were positioned in strategic locations in Ahvaz in an attempt to prevent the steelworkers from continuing their protests.

The protesters persisted despite these measures, even though they were surrounded by suppressive forces in some areas. The workers vowed to continue to protest until their demands were met and their colleagues were freed. The workers chanted, “Imprisoned workers must be freed!”

The workers of the Ahvaz steel factory went on strike 39 days ago because they had not received their wages for several months. They have continued their strikes and protests despite continuous threats and acts of intimidation from the regime.

Happening now: #IranProtests in #Ahvaz – Angry unpaid steelworkers have just taken over the street chanting: "The Thieves are free and the workers are in prison'' They demand immediate release of 31 arrested workers & their representatives @bySamStevenson pic.twitter.com/eEpIU0DBDK

— Hossein Abedini (@HoAbedini) December 17, 2018

Workers from cities across Iran expressed solidarity with the striking steelworkers of Ahvaz, calling for the immediate release of the arrested workers. Among the workers expressing support were the Tehran Bus Company workers’ syndicate and truck drivers in various parts of Iran. Iran’s truck drivers have gone on strike four times this year because of low pay, rising fees, and hazardous conditions.

The MEK and the Iranian Resistance applauds the workers of Ahvaz for their persistence and strength and calls upon the workers, young people, and students of Iran, particularly those in Ahvaz and Khuzestan, to support the steelworkers of Ahvaz in their strike.

The MEK further calls upon international human rights organizations and workers’ rights advocates, unions, and syndicates to call for the release of the arrested workers, protesters, and representatives and to support the steelworkers in their protests.

The MEK and the Iranian Resistance say that the regime’s arrests of the protesting steelworkers are another sign of the mullahs’ frustration with the ongoing nationwide workers’ strikes.

Staff Writer

Reports from the MEK sources inside Iran indicate that workers from the Ahvaz National Steel Industrial Group reached the 32nd day of their strike on Tuesday. The steelworkers, who are striking in protest of months of unpaid wages, are struggling financially, and many of them have been forced to sell their homes in order to make ends meet.

The state-run ILNA news agency reported that the steelworkers of the Ahvaz National Steel Industrial Group faced financial hardships even before the strikes due to their wages not being paid consistently or on time.

#Iran, Ahvaz: Workers of the National Steel Group rallying for the 32nd day in protest to unpaid wages, the privatization of the company and the arrest of labor activists. Workers are wearing burial shrouds to indicate that they will stand till death. #IranProtests pic.twitter.com/Hr6PU8OMB9

— Iran News Wire (@IranNW) December 11, 2018

The steelworkers have also demanded that their employers establish all production lines and supply necessary equipment and parts. In addition, they are asking that the factory he returned to government control. The steelworkers have seen conditions at the factory worsen under the direction of private investors, most of whom are connected to the regime, and who operate without any oversight.

The Ahvaz Steel factory is located in Khuzestan Province, where most workers have large families, due to the dominant culture in the region. Iran is in the midst of an economic crisis, which has caused inflation and the price of goods to skyrocket.

Unpaid wages of Ahvaz steel factory workers forces them to sell homes

Most of the steelworkers do not have homes to sell. They can not pay for basic needs, such as rent, utilities, medical bills, and education expenses for their children

According to ILNA, these factors, combined with the workers’ unstable wages, have driven the steelworkers of Ahvaz and their families out of their homes.

Steel Workers Strike for the 32nd Day

On Tuesday, the workers gathered in front of the Khuzestan Province governorate, holding banners which read, “Workers are awake and tired of being exploited!”

The Steelworkers also protested in front of the Jazayeri mosque. The demonstrators wore grave shrouds, which symbolizes their commitment to stand up for their cause no matter the cost.

Protesters in Iran have begun to wear grave shrouds at anti-regime protests as the workers’ strikes and protests have gained momentum. Also Maryam Rajavi, the Iranian opposition leader has urged the people of Ahvaz and particularly the youth to join the workers in unity.

The strike and protests of the steel workers of #Ahvaz entered its second month. I urge the people of Ahvaz and their brave youths to join them in unity. #Iran#IranProtests #FreeIran2018#IranRegimeChange

— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) December 10, 2018

The MEK and the Iranian Opposition supports these protests and calls upon the Iranian people to stand with the striking workers in solidarity.

Staff Writer

 

 

 

 

 

On Saturday, November 24th, the protests at the Haft Tappeh sugarcane factory and the Ahvaz Steel company reached their 20^th and 15^th days respectively.

Haft Tappeh

The Haft Tappeh workers initiated a walkout and protest almost three weeks ago over unpaid wages, deteriorating working conditions, and the forced privatization of the company. Both the workers and the factory itself are on the brink of bankruptcy, with many reporting being forced to purchase basic essentials on credit from local stores.

After several of their numbers were arrested, the protestors took their chants and slogans to the Shush governor’s building to demand their immediate release. Following intense international scrutiny and domestic public pressure, the regime released 14 of its 19 prisoners, however, four labor representatives and a civil rights activist remain in regime custody.

It is still unclear on what grounds they are being held. The regime has not revealed their charges.

Freedom living #Iranians in #Toronto declare their commitment to voice the message of deprived #Haft_Tappeh,#Ahvaz Steel Workers,Teachers. #IranRegimeChange #IranianNationwideStrike@CdnPress #Cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/VQfn4VdYFy

— IDA – Canada ?? (@IDA_Canada) November 24, 2018

Ahvaz Steel Company

Meanwhile, in Ahvaz, the workers at the Ahvaz Steel Company were facing down regime officials as well. They too have suffered economically due to unpaid salaries.

November 20
Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
National Steel Group employees, demanding delayed paychecks & release of detained colleagues.

Chants:
"We steel workers, we stand against cruelty & oppression"
"Proud Ahvazis, support, support"
"Let go of Syria, think about us"#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/QtCjXDFJHi

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 20, 2018

After the workers took their demonstration to the Khuzestan governate, regime officials opened channels of negotiations with the workers. However, they would not be fed lies and false hope. They made it clear they would not end the protest until they saw evidence of concrete actions designed to improve their working conditions and alleviate their financial hardship.

Rising Anti-Regime Sentiment

Like many other protests in recent years, including among Iran’s truck drivers and teachers, the strikes took a decidedly anti-regime tone.

In Shush, protestors from Haft Tappeh chanted “imprisoned workers must be freed”. In Ahvaz, the workers chanted “we will fight against tyranny”. These chants are significant as it shows a break with protests in the past, which have focused on specific demands and grievances.

While both protests are seeking a resolution from the regime to pay out their unpaid wages, they are also both part of a wider Iranian movement calling for the regime to be held accountable for its tyrannical and financial ruinous policies that have plunged Iran into an economic freefall.

As the world marks #WorldChildrensDay, this child's sign is very telling in the middle of Haft Tapeh sugar cane mill employees' protests:

"Daddy didn't give water"
"Daddy didn't give bread"
"Daddy doesn't have a paycheck" pic.twitter.com/mpwxalsCIh

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 20, 2018

Government mismanagement and corruption has increasingly taken center-stage at protests since the nationwide protests in December and January, in which the People’s Mujahedin Organisation of Iran (MEK) played a major role.

In Shush, the workers at Haft Tappeh called on their fellow citizens to rise up and join them, a sentiment echoed by the leader of Iran opposition, the President-elect Maryam Rajavi. Some days, the workers were joined by merchants, teachers, taxi drivers, and local residents. A feeling of solidarity is beginning to emerge as local residents provide the workers with meals and taxi drivers are providing free rides.

In Ahvaz, a similar situation is emerging. The people know that their grievances cannot be resolved under this corrupt and greedy regime. Their wages will remain unpaid. The mullahs and their cronies will only get richer, while the rest of Iran struggles to stay afloat.

It is clear, regime change is the only option remaining, a fact that is increasingly dawning on both the Iranian public and the regime itself. History is in the making in Ahvaz and Shush. The mullahs will no doubt try to contain the situation. It is up to the rest of Iran to ensure that their voices and their protests will not be contained. They will be heard and their grievances will be addressed.

Staff Writer